and left the group.
When the moment had passed, Sariel looked up.
The elder and the other men were just finishing their food. Their faces wore the same expressions. The movements of their bodies were unchanged. No one had seemed to notice.
The elder wiped the food from his mouth and beard with the back of his hand, then set down his leaf which had been scraped clean. He proceeded to clear his throat and then wait for the women to remove the remains of the meal. The women worked efficiently with the commonplace task and w hen the men were the only ones left around the ring of stones , the elder turned to Sariel. The sun was halfway below the horizon now and his face was nearly lost in the darkness, with only his eyes and the upper part of his face reflecting the orange light.
“You asked me what my d athrah has shown me. ”
Sariel leaned forward and nodded his head.
“I have seen that some things are within my control, and some things are not.”
Sariel waited patiently for the man to make his point, which seemed like it would be a long time coming.
“ I have seen t ehrah that is beyond my strength. This is a danger to my people.”
Evil? Sariel translated to himself .
Sheyir’s father paused now, perhaps choosing his words carefully , or taking one last opportunity to assess the stranger. His expressionless face was difficult to read.
“The young men have seen your d athrah . If you do not mean us harm …i f you speak truth when you say you have come to help, then I have a task for you.”
I like where this is going. Sariel nodded again.
The elder continued. “ At the end of these mountains , where they stretch toward the water, is a place called Arar Gahiy , the V alley of the C urse. In this valley is Armayim , the L ake of the C urse. In this place we can no longer walk ; I have forbidden it . It is too dangerous for my people . In the morning, the young men will take you. They will not go into Arar Gahiy . Y ou will go alone . Y ou will see if your d athrah shows you what I have seen. Then you will return and tell me what you saw. You will tell me if your d athrah is strong enough to help my people.”
Sariel wait ed for a moment to make sure that the elder was finished talking. After a brief silence, he responded. “Thank you for your trust. I will do as you ask and if there is a way to help your people, I will.”
The elder neither smiled, nor frowned. Without breaking eye contact, he stood up , apparently satisfied with the conclusion of the discussion. The other senior tribe members rose with him and Sariel stood as well.
“You have been shown where you will sleep . ” the elder stated .
“Yes, ” Sariel replied, assuming it was a question. “B ut I will stay here for a while and think on the things you have told me.”
This time, the elder nodded, then turned and walked into the darkness.
When the men were gone, Sariel sat down again and leaned forward , rest ing his elbows on his knees.
Valley of the Curse? I wonder what he means. …an evil that is beyond my strength ?
W hile he meditated on the discussion, a presence nearby interrupted his thoughts. Turning, he could barely make out the form of someone standing a short distance a way.
“I did not tell them,” she said softly.
Sheyir!
Her voice was like the song of water gliding over smooth stones in a creek . It was gentle, clear, and complex. “…about our first meeting?” he clarified.
“Yes,” she replied simply.
“I must apologize to you. I didn’t mean to frighten you. That is the last thing I want.”
Sheyir ’s faint silhouette came a step closer. She remained quiet for a moment while her head turned from side to side . “You said you have come a long way to see me.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“ Men do not seek after women,” she countered softly, almost in a whisper.
Sariel smiled. “ Not among the Chatsiyram . But I am
When the moment had passed, Sariel looked up.
The elder and the other men were just finishing their food. Their faces wore the same expressions. The movements of their bodies were unchanged. No one had seemed to notice.
The elder wiped the food from his mouth and beard with the back of his hand, then set down his leaf which had been scraped clean. He proceeded to clear his throat and then wait for the women to remove the remains of the meal. The women worked efficiently with the commonplace task and w hen the men were the only ones left around the ring of stones , the elder turned to Sariel. The sun was halfway below the horizon now and his face was nearly lost in the darkness, with only his eyes and the upper part of his face reflecting the orange light.
“You asked me what my d athrah has shown me. ”
Sariel leaned forward and nodded his head.
“I have seen that some things are within my control, and some things are not.”
Sariel waited patiently for the man to make his point, which seemed like it would be a long time coming.
“ I have seen t ehrah that is beyond my strength. This is a danger to my people.”
Evil? Sariel translated to himself .
Sheyir’s father paused now, perhaps choosing his words carefully , or taking one last opportunity to assess the stranger. His expressionless face was difficult to read.
“The young men have seen your d athrah . If you do not mean us harm …i f you speak truth when you say you have come to help, then I have a task for you.”
I like where this is going. Sariel nodded again.
The elder continued. “ At the end of these mountains , where they stretch toward the water, is a place called Arar Gahiy , the V alley of the C urse. In this valley is Armayim , the L ake of the C urse. In this place we can no longer walk ; I have forbidden it . It is too dangerous for my people . In the morning, the young men will take you. They will not go into Arar Gahiy . Y ou will go alone . Y ou will see if your d athrah shows you what I have seen. Then you will return and tell me what you saw. You will tell me if your d athrah is strong enough to help my people.”
Sariel wait ed for a moment to make sure that the elder was finished talking. After a brief silence, he responded. “Thank you for your trust. I will do as you ask and if there is a way to help your people, I will.”
The elder neither smiled, nor frowned. Without breaking eye contact, he stood up , apparently satisfied with the conclusion of the discussion. The other senior tribe members rose with him and Sariel stood as well.
“You have been shown where you will sleep . ” the elder stated .
“Yes, ” Sariel replied, assuming it was a question. “B ut I will stay here for a while and think on the things you have told me.”
This time, the elder nodded, then turned and walked into the darkness.
When the men were gone, Sariel sat down again and leaned forward , rest ing his elbows on his knees.
Valley of the Curse? I wonder what he means. …an evil that is beyond my strength ?
W hile he meditated on the discussion, a presence nearby interrupted his thoughts. Turning, he could barely make out the form of someone standing a short distance a way.
“I did not tell them,” she said softly.
Sheyir!
Her voice was like the song of water gliding over smooth stones in a creek . It was gentle, clear, and complex. “…about our first meeting?” he clarified.
“Yes,” she replied simply.
“I must apologize to you. I didn’t mean to frighten you. That is the last thing I want.”
Sheyir ’s faint silhouette came a step closer. She remained quiet for a moment while her head turned from side to side . “You said you have come a long way to see me.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“ Men do not seek after women,” she countered softly, almost in a whisper.
Sariel smiled. “ Not among the Chatsiyram . But I am
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